Construction Entrepreneurs Warn of Protests Over Unaddressed Demands

Kathmandu. The Federation of Construction Entrepreneurs of Nepal has warned of announcing new protest programs if their demands are not addressed before the upcoming budget. Federation spokesperson Mangal Bahadur Shahi said that although they have waited a few days for talks and decisions with the government, there is no alternative but to go for protests if concrete results do not emerge.

In a conversation with RatoPati, spokesperson Shahi complained that although the government sent a message that discussions were underway to solve the problems of construction entrepreneurs, concrete solutions have not been provided so far. 

He said, 'We have been waiting for the government's decision for the last three-four days. If a proper decision is not made in time, we are preparing to announce further protest programs, including digital ones.'

Construction entrepreneurs have been demanding, especially, an increase in the price of petroleum products due to the conflict in West Asia, leading to an unnatural increase in the cost of ongoing projects, and an extension of the price adjustment period.

Shahi claims that if the entrepreneurs' demands are decided before the budget, the pace of construction work will increase, confidence will be instilled in the entrepreneurs, and the expenditure of the development budget will also be effective.

'If addressed before the budget, those who work will be encouraged, the pace of work will increase, and the progress of capital expenditure will also be visible,' he added. Last Friday, discussions were held between government representatives, parliamentarians, and construction entrepreneurs at a meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the Federal Parliament. 

In that discussion, Gopal Prasad Sigdel, Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, informed that a path has been paved to take a proposal to the Council of Ministers for price adjustment in the construction sector.

Furthermore, Minister of Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal also stated that the problems of construction entrepreneurs will be addressed and the price adjustment in the construction sector will be done. He also urged construction entrepreneurs not to halt project construction work.